Pressure tap support for tube holding during wind tunnel testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11041775-B2
Application number	US-201816224330-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Dec 18, 2018
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus is described and in one embodiment includes a first portion comprising an inner diameter, a first outer diameter, and a first length and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrally connected together, the second portion comprising the inner diameter, at least one second outer diameter, and a second length. The embodiment further includes a flange comprising a contact surface, wherein the inner diameter of the first portion and the second portion provides a hollow pathway through the apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising: a first portion comprising an inner diameter, a first outer diameter, and a first length; and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrally connected together, the second portion comprising: the inner diameter, at least one second outer diameter, and a second length; and a flange comprising a contact surface; and wherein the inner diameter of the first portion and the second portion provides a hollow pathway through the apparatus; and wherein the second portion comprises at least one of one or more ergonomic features to facilitate gripping the apparatus with at least two fingers and a chamfer feature at an end of the second portion that is opposite the flange, wherein the chamfer feature fully encircles the inner diameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first outer diameter of the first portion is configured to be inserted in a hole, the hole comprising an outer diameter that is equal to the first outer diameter of the first portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the hole is within a material having a material thickness, and the first length of the first portion is greater than or equal to the material thickness.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contact surface of the flange of extends from the first outer diameter of the first portion to a distance equal to the at least one second outer diameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flange fully encircles the first outer diameter of the first portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hollow pathway is configured to receive a tube, the tube comprising an outer diameter that is equal to the inner diameter of the hollow pathway.

7. A wind tunnel device comprising:
a plurality of holes configured along one or more sides of the wind tunnel device;
a plurality of pressure tap supports configured within the plurality of holes, wherein each pressure tap support comprises:
a first portion comprising an inner diameter, a first outer diameter, and a first length; and
a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrally connected together, the second portion comprising the inner diameter, at least one second outer diameter, and a second length, and wherein the inner diameter of the first portion and the second portion provides a hollow pathway through the pressure tap support; and

a plurality of rigid tubes configured within the hollow pathway of the plurality of pressure tap supports.

8. The wind tunnel device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a plurality of flexible tubes connected to the plurality of rigid tubes.

9. The wind tunnel device of claim 7 , wherein the second portion of each pressure tap support further comprises a flange, and a portion of the flange is affixed to an inner surface of a skin of the wind tunnel device.

10. The wind tunnel device of claim 9 , wherein the second portion of each pressure tap support further comprises a chamfer feature at an end of the second portion that is opposite the flange, wherein the chamfer feature fully encircles the inner diameter.

11. The wind tunnel device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of rigid tubes are affixed to at least a portion the pressure tap supports.

12. The wind tunnel device of claim 7 , wherein an end of the first portion of each pressure tap support that extends through each hole is even with an outer surface of a skin of the wind tunnel device, and wherein an end of each tube that is configured within each pressure tap support is even with the outer surface of the side of the wind tunnel device.

13. A method comprising:
configuring a pressure tap support within a hole provided for a skin of an apparatus, wherein the pressure tap support comprises:
a first portion comprising an inner diameter, a first outer diameter, and a first length; and
a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrally connected together, the second portion comprising the inner diameter, at least one second outer diameter, and a second length, and wherein the inner diameter of the first portion and the second portion provides a hollow pathway through the pressure tap support; and

configuring a rigid tube within the hollow pathway of the pressure tap support.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
connecting a flexible tube to the rigid tube.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein configuring the pressure tap support within the hole further comprises:
affixing a flange of the second portion of the pressure tap support to an inner surface of the skin of the apparatus using at least one adhesive.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein configuring the pressure tap support within the hole further comprises:
removing any part of the first portion of the pressure tap support that extends beyond an outer surface of the skin of the apparatus.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein configuring the rigid tube within the inner diameter of the pressure tap support further comprises:
inserting an end of the rigid tube within the hollow pathway of the pressure tap support;
applying an adhesive along an outer diameter of the rigid tube; and
pushing the rigid tube within the hollow pathway of the pressure tap support until the inserted end of the rigid tube is at least even with an outer surface of the skin of the apparatus.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Landry Francois
• Landry Martin
• Beaucaire Francis
• Morris Kevin Donald

Classifications

• G01M9/08 Primary

  Aerodynamic models · CPC title

• G01L19/0023

  for flowthrough systems having a flexible pressure transmitting element · CPC title

• G01L15/00

  Devices or apparatus for measuring two or more fluid pressure values simultaneously · CPC title

• G01L19/0038

  being part of the housing (other details about the housing G01L19/14) · CPC title

• G01L19/147 Primary

  Details about the mounting of the sensor to support or covering means · CPC title